System and method for creating avatars or animated sequences using human body features extracted from a still image

Abstract

A user may create an avatar and/or animated sequence illustrating a particular object or living being performing a certain activity, using images of portions of the object or living being extracted from a still image or set of still images of the object or living being.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 monitoring information received from one or more sources, wherein the one or more sources comprise one or both of a social media website and a news website; 
 determining a common theme according to the information received from the sources; 
 gathering a plurality of images according to the common theme; 
 determining characteristics according to the plurality of images; 
 receiving an input from an end-user; 
 generating an avatar depicting an object; and 
 generating a background for the avatar, wherein the background comprises one or more images selected from the plurality of images according to the input from the end-user and according to one or more of the characteristics. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the characteristics comprise one or more of a subject matter, a level of importance, a timeliness, and a classification of geographic relevance. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
 adjusting one or both of appearance aspects and motion aspects of the avatar according to the input from the end-user. 
 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein adjusting one or both of appearance aspects and motion aspects of the avatar comprises selecting a motion template for animating the avatar. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
 prompting the end-user to interactively identify segments of the one or more images as one or more sub-images. 
 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
 associating an image selected by the end-user with one or more aspects of the object, wherein the one or more aspects of the object are associated with reference parameters of a structural feature of the object, and wherein the reference parameters define one or more of a location of motion, a dimension of motion, and a constraint upon motion; 
 applying the image selected by the end-user to a model, wherein the model comprises anatomical characteristics, and wherein the applying is based on the reference parameters of the structural feature of the object; and 
 rendering, from the model, the avatar. 
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the object is a human being. 
     
     
       8. A system comprising:
 one or more processors for communicatively coupling to a communication network and operably coupled to a display device, the one or more processors operable to: 
 monitor information received from one or more sources, wherein the one or more sources comprise one or both of a social media website and a news website; 
 determine a common theme according to the information received from the sources; 
 gather a plurality of images according to the common theme; 
 determine characteristics according to the plurality of images; 
 receive an input from an end-user; 
 generate an avatar depicting an object; and 
 generate a background for the avatar, wherein the background comprises one or more images selected from the plurality of images according to the input from the end-user and according to one or more of the characteristics. 
 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the characteristics comprise one or more of a subject matter, a level of importance, a timeliness, and a classification of geographic relevance. 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are operable to:
 adjust one or both of appearance aspects and motion aspects of the avatar of the object based upon the input from the end-user. 
 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 10 , wherein adjusting one or both of appearance aspects and motion aspects of the avatar comprises a selection by the end-user of a motion template to define animation of the avatar. 
     
     
       12. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are operable to:
 prompt the end-user to interactively identify segments of the one or more images as one or more sub-images. 
 
     
     
       13. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are operable to:
 associate an image selected by the end-user with one or more aspects of the object, wherein the one or more aspects of the object are associated with reference parameters of a structural feature of the object, and wherein the reference parameters define one or more of a location of motion, a dimension of motion, and a constraint upon motion; 
 apply the image selected by the end-user to a model, wherein the model comprises anatomical characteristics, and wherein the applying is based on the reference parameters of the structural feature of the object; and 
 render the avatar according to the model. 
 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the object is a human being. 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, a plurality of code sections, each code section comprising a plurality of instructions executable by one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform the actions of a method, the actions comprising:
 monitoring information received from one or more sources, wherein the one or more sources comprise one or both of a social media website and a news website; 
 determining a common theme according to the information received from the sources; 
 gathering a plurality of images according to the common theme; 
 determining characteristics according to the plurality of images; 
 receiving an input from an end-user; 
 generating an avatar depicting an object; and 
 
       generating a background for the avatar, wherein the background comprises one or more images selected from the plurality of images according to the input from the end-user and according to one or more of the characteristics. 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the one or more characteristics comprise one or more of a subject matter, a level of importance, a timeliness, and a classification of geographic relevance. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the actions comprise:
 adjusting one or both of appearance aspects and motion aspects of the avatar of the object according to the input from the end-user. 
 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 17 , wherein adjusting one or both of appearance aspects and motion aspects of the avatar comprises selecting a motion template to define animation of the avatar. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the actions comprise:
 prompting the end-user to interactively identify segments of the one or more images as one or more sub-images. 
 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the actions comprise:
 associating an image selected by the end-user with one or more aspects of the object, wherein the one or more aspects of the object are associated with reference parameters of a structural feature of the object, and wherein the reference parameters define one or more of a location of motion, a dimension of motion, and a constraint upon motion; 
 applying the image selected by the end-user to a model, wherein the model comprises anatomical characteristics, and wherein the applying is based on the reference parameters of the structural feature of the object; and 
 rendering, from the model, the avatar. 
 
     
     
       21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the object is a human being.